Plasma addressed liquid crystal display device having conductor through dielectric sheet attached to conductive layer centrally located in discharge channel

Abstract

A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device includes a plasma cell substrate; a counter substrate; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the plasma cell substrate and the counter substrate, the plasma cell substrate including a first substrate, a dielectric sheet provided on a side of the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of stripe-shaped discharge channels surrounded by a plurality of partition walls formed in a gap between the first substrate and the dielectric sheet, the counter substrate including a second substrate, and a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes formed on the second substrate so as to extend perpendicularly to the plurality of stripe-shaped discharge channels, and each of intersection regions of the plurality of discharge channels and the plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes defines a picture-element region, wherein the dielectric sheet includes a sheet-like dielectric, a plurality of conductive portions extending between surfaces of the sheet-like dielectric which respectively face the discharge channels and the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of first conductive layers formed on a surface of the dielectric sheet which faces the discharge channels, each of the plurality of first conductive layers being electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of conducive portions.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device, comprising: 
       a plasma cell substrate;  
       a counter substrate;  
       a liquid crystal layer interposed between the plasma cell substrate and the counter substrate,  
       the plasma cell substrate including a first substrate, a dielectric sheet provided on a side of the liquid crystal later, and a plurality of stripe-shaped discharge channels surrounded by a plurality of partition walls formed in a gap between the first substrate and the dielectric sheet,  
       the counter substrate including a second substrate, and a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes formed on the second substrate so as to extend perpendicularly to the plurality of stripe-shaped discharge channels,  
       wherein each of intersection regions of the plurality of discharge channels and the plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes defines a picture-element region,  
       wherein the dielectric sheet includes a sheet-like dielectric, a plurality of conductive portions extending between surfaces of the sheet-like dielectric which respectively face the discharge channels and the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of first conductive layers formed on a surface of the dielectric sheet which faces the discharge channels, each of the plurality of first conductive layers being electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of conductive portions; and  
       wherein each of the plurality of first conductive layers is at least partially located in a central area of a corresponding discharge channel.  
     
     
       2. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein the plurality of first conductive portions are provided so as to correspond to the respective picture-element regions. 
     
     
       3. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device according to claim  2 , wherein 
       the dielectric sheet has a plurality of second conductive layers on a surface of the dielectric sheet which faces the liquid crystal layer,  
       the plurality of second conductive layers being provided so as to correspond to the respective picture element regions, and being electrically connected to the first conductive layer through at least one of the plurality of conductive portions.  
     
     
       4. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device according to claim  2 , wherein the plurality of conductive portions are formed outside the picture element regions. 
     
     
       5. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device according to claim  4 , wherein each of the plurality of conductive portions is formed in a region overlapping a corresponding one of the plurality of partition walls when viewed from a direction normal to the dielectric sheet. 
     
     
       6. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein first and second polarizing plates are provided on respective outside surfaces of the first and second substrates with respect to the liquid crystal layer. 
     
     
       7. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device according to claim  6 , further comprising: 
       at least one phase plate is provided between the first and second polarizing plates and the liquid crystal layer.  
     
     
       8. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein the sheet-like dielectric has first and second surfaces facing each other; wherein the plurality of conductive portions extend between the first and second surfaces of the sheet-like dielectric; and wherein the plurality of first conductive layers are formed on at least one of the first and second surfaces, each of the plurality of first conductive layers being electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of conductive portions. 
     
     
       9. The display of claim  8 , wherein said conductive layers are provided in addition to anode electrodes and cathode electrodes supported by a substrate, said substrate also supporting said dielectric sheet. 
     
     
       10. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein the sheet-like dielectric is formed from an inorganic material. 
     
     
       11. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device according to claim  1 , wherein the sheet-like dielectric is formed from a resin. 
     
     
       12. A display of claim  1 , further comprising anode electrodes and cathode electrodes supported by said plasma cell substrate, and wherein said plurality of first conductive layers formed on a surface of the dielectric sheet are provided in addition to said anode electrodes and cathode electrodes. 
     
     
       13. A plasma addressed liquid crystal display device, comprising: 
       a plasma cell substrate;  
       a counter substrate;  
       a liquid crystal layer interposed between the plasma cell substrate and the counter substrate;  
       The plasma cell substrate including a first substrate, a dielectric sheet provided on a side of the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of stripe-shaped discharge channels surrounded by a plurality of partition walls formed in a gap between the first substrate and the dielectric sheet;  
       the counter substrate including a second substrate, and a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes formed on the second substrate so as to extend perpendicularly to the plurality of stripe-shaped discharge channels;  
       each of intersection regions of the plurality of discharge channels and the plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes defines a picture-element region;  
       wherein the dielectric sheet includes a sheet-like dielectric, a plurality of conductive portions extending surfaces of the sheet-like dielectric which respectively face the discharge channels and the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of first conductive layers formed on a surface of the dielectric sheet which faces the discharge channels, each of the plurality of first conductive layers being electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of conductive portions; and  
       wherein a plurality of said conductive portions are located in central areas of corresponding discharge channels.  
     
     
       14. The display of claim  13 , wherein said conductive portion are non-continuously provided along lengths of respective discharge channels.